586458 Fri Jan 09 09:08:32 -0800 2009 114 12 Boston Area 0 4310821 There's another thread that details the concept and debates the merits of the place and the bartenders. But with no menu, and a coctail selection limited only by the tender's knowledge, I want to know what everyone's ordering. I was there last night with a friend. I may have missed an ingredient or two but here's the gist of what we had: Round one: Fort point- Rye, vermouth, bitters Last Word- Gin, Chartreuse, bitters Round two: Fernet flip- frenet, simple syrup, whole egg Coffee Flip- Old Monk Rum, St. Germaine, muddled coffe beans, maraschino, whole egg (possibly the best drink i've ever had) Round three: Aaron's (bartender) favorite drink, a french name I can't recall: Rye, Cognac, Benedictine, Angostura bitters, and another type of bitters (they have 14 different kinds of them) Round four- beverage created by Aaron- Aperol, gin, St. Germaine, grape fruit bitters, lemon around the rim- a milder and fruitier than a Negroni but along the same parallel. Round 5: Negroni- gin, vermouth, campari, flamed orange around the rim Fri Jan 09 09:08:32 -0800 2009 217582 cannedmilkandfruitypebbles 1 4311434 On my one visit: A couple of Hearsts - gin, vermouth, two types of bitters Obituary - gin, vermouth, and absinthe Fri Jan 09 12:22:20 -0800 2009 4310821 10271 Rubee 1 4311624 A Last Word is equal parts gin, green chartreuse, lime juice, and Maraschino. Your round 3 sounds like a Vieux Carré. When we went, Benjamin made us - a Fort Point - a crazy improvisation when I asked for a Cynar drink - 1 oz Cynar, 1 oz lemon juice, 1/2 oz Fernet, 1/2 oz apricot brandy - a Last Word-type drink I can't remember the name of (substitute lemon juice for lime juice and yellow Chartreuse for green Chartreuse) - an invention he called the Crustacean, including brandy, pimento dram, and lemon juice. All delicious! Fri Jan 09 13:10:08 -0800 2009 4310821 22331 dfan 2 4311692 Vieux Carré, exactly what it was. Fri Jan 09 13:26:44 -0800 2009 4311624 217582 cannedmilkandfruitypebbles 2 4318806 That Last Word riff may have been a Refined Speech - a bit more gin in it proportionately as well - Misty made me an excellent one. I also learned of the Corpse Reviver #2 from Ben at Drink (equal parts Gin, Cointreau, Lilllet blanc, and lemon juice, with a dash or more of absinthe (or Herbsaint) - amazing! My other revelation was Xmas week - the Tom and Jerry - warm, highly-spiked, spicy eggnog - wow! I wish they had it more often. Have also enjoyed Misty's Bohemian and the coolest Vieux Carre ever with its handmade by Josie iceberg in the glass. Mon Jan 12 10:17:12 -0800 2009 4311624 10399 rlh 3 4361556 Additions from recent visit with huge thanks to Josie as always: Krakatoa - flaming green chartreuse with gin and Fernet Branca (I think) - dramatic and tasty! Toronto - rye-based sort of krakatoa (not flaming) Old Monk rum in a Hemingway daiquiri - not so seasonal but delicious Old Monk in a 1919 - wow - this was the one to remember from this visit Elderflower Sour - light and delicious twist on the Bohemian Tue Jan 27 07:42:27 -0800 2009 4318806 10399 rlh 4 4594206 Great night with John as our bartender (a first for me) yesterday: Tennessee: bourbon, lemon juice, demerera syrup, and Luxardo maraschino - light and delicious Appetizer d'Italienne (??): Fernet Branca, sweet vermouth (two kinds), and demerera - a "very adult" drink for sipping that I really enjoyed Toronto: Rittenhouse rye, Old Monk rum, Punt e Mes Seelbach: champagne, Cointreau and lots of two kinds of bitters Old Monk daiquiri - big crowd pleaser Blood and Sand - OJ, scotch, and something red Manhattan - classic and perfect in cut glass Tue Apr 14 08:00:17 -0700 2009 4361556 10399 rlh 5 4594244 The something red in the blood and sand - it has heering and sweet vermouth The toronto is rye, fernet branca, syrup & bitters Tue Apr 14 08:13:59 -0700 2009 4594206 111910 jgg13 6 4594959 Thanks for providing the details on the Blood and Sand - I am pretty sure my Toronto was altered as described (rum added and Punt e Mes instead of FB) with the addition of bitters and I think xanthan gum syrup, actually - it worked.. Tue Apr 14 11:33:51 -0700 2009 4594244 10399 rlh 3 4624889 A couple of new additions enjoyed last night - crafted by Josie and John: Blinker Old Pal (rye-based and excellent) Menage (Fernet, Cynar, and Green Chartreuse - great after dinner Fri Apr 24 08:56:30 -0700 2009 4318806 10399 rlh 1 4311625 The last time I was there, I had a Fort Point (I usually dunno what I want, so I seem to toss that out as a starting point), 1919 (I *really* liked it, but I tend to like heavier/sweeter things), Toronto & Ewing #33. Fri Jan 09 13:10:17 -0800 2009 4310821 111910 jgg13 1 4312120 1794, rye flip, Fort Point, Last Word, Scoff Law, Green Point, Sazerac, Hearst, Ward Eight, Vieux Carre, Corpse Reviver, Hanky-Panky. A couple I didn't scribble down. I've actually tried both of the red wines, too. Fri Jan 09 15:49:10 -0800 2009 4310821 10143 MC Slim JB 1 4312607 I'm glad you started this thread. It's a good way around my no-cocktail-menu pet peeve. I'll use this thread as my menu, and the first thing I'll order is that Coffee Flip. It somehow sounds disgusting and delicious at the same time. I love all those ingredients, but wouldn't think (or be crazy enough) to put them together. Fri Jan 09 18:39:09 -0800 2009 4310821 105892 pollystyrene 2 4313263 I've only gotten down there once so far (more to come, though). Josie started me off with the Fort Point (seems to be a good starter for a lot of people), when I asked about the Mole bitters, she steered me to the 1919 (also good 'cause I had wanted to try the Old Monk rum in a drink as well), and then wrapped up my intro evening with a classic Vieux Carre. The 1919 was the real standout of the evening with the molasses-y Old Monk mixing nicely with the spice of the Rittenhouse and the herbals of the Benedictine. The chocolately finish from the bitters then came, first as a nice surprise and then as something to be looked forward to after each sip. A real winner that kills me that I can't duplicate it at home yet! I agree that the coffee flip sound tres interesting! Sat Jan 10 05:11:52 -0800 2009 4312607 160067 Scortch 3 4313346 Fort Point, Riff on a Pegu, Aviator, Jack Benny, Last Word, Something with homemade ginger beer dispensed from a seltzer-water siphon, Negroni, and a 1919 not made by Josie but the young lad wrote down the recipe for me as follows: 1919 3/4 oz Old Monk Rum 3/4 oz Rittenhouse Rye (100 °) 1/2 oz Benedictine 1 oz Punt e Mes 2 Dahes Fee Bros. Whiskey Barrel Bitters Stir over ice, strain, garnish w/ orange oil. Sat Jan 10 06:13:37 -0800 2009 4313263 223248 T.Clark 4 4313603 I recently came across a good writeup (and a good blog in general) on the 1919 here: http://cocktailvirgin.blogspot.com/2008/11/1919-cocktail.html Sat Jan 10 08:41:45 -0800 2009 4313346 111910 jgg13 5 4364426 I guess most of my drinks are covered then. -Frederic (1/4th of CocktailVirgin) Tue Jan 27 21:59:45 -0800 2009 4313603 256764 yarm 4 4314659 The Whiskey Barrel Aged was used when had it? See, that I can do. I definitely know Josie used the Mole from Bitterman's. I'll give the Whiskey Barrel version a shot tonight! Sat Jan 10 15:29:27 -0800 2009 4313346 160067 Scortch 5 4314980 I think the orange oil is pretty trick. Sat Jan 10 18:27:43 -0800 2009 4314659 223248 T.Clark 4 4361812 Spread across two more visits ......Seelbach, Sazerac, Reading Beer, Tom & Jerry, Gin-Gin Mule, Satan's Whiskers.........& the entire small bites menu. Tue Jan 27 08:55:10 -0800 2009 4313346 223248 T.Clark 5 4361898 Am I the only one thinking that Drink's small bites menu is getting pricier and less interesting with every iteration? I thought the opening menu was clever and delicious, where the current one (the third or fourth I've seen) has about 1/3 as many interesting dishes. I know the focus is on cocktails, but it's nice to have a bite or two if you haven't eaten lately before you move into strong drinks. Maybe the strategy is to encourage people to eat at Sportello? Tue Jan 27 09:19:53 -0800 2009 4361812 10143 MC Slim JB 6 4362189 I actually said to a friend that was with us "it's like they don't want you to eat". I did't see the very first menu but the last two I found to be expensive for the quantity but the quality was good. The young bar back seems to assemble the food and you can tell he's doing his best. They do pass around warm nuts but I've also noticed most people are not eating at all. I personally can't have cocktails without something to soak up the brown booze. Oh to be young again. The madelines are probably the smallest of offerings but I do like them. The Jamon was good. The shrimp was boring (menu says tomato syrup, it was cocktail sauce). The Gougeres were good but it also said truffled mornay in the description which they said was "injected" but mine must have missed the injection. I really liked the beef tartare. Tater Tots were meh. Duck Drummetts were good but the celery root remoulade didn't work, rather messy to eat as well. I can't remember the rest. In the end I nosh there because I have to but I've come to the conclusion that the food offered really doesn't match up well with cocktails. Tue Jan 27 10:23:42 -0800 2009 4361898 223248 T.Clark 6 4362226 You're not the only one re: the menu. I hadn't thought about trying to corral people up to Sportello, but the last time I was there the gf & I considered that perhaps they were actively testing out items for app type fare at the fine dining place. Tue Jan 27 10:34:06 -0800 2009 4361898 111910 jgg13 7 4362260 Sportello is pricey, and not everyone's going to love the all-white, futuristic, "diner with no booths, only counter seating" setup (I don't recommend it for parties of more than 3 or 4), but the food is really tasty. I think I've mentioned that bigoli with uni and clams a couple of times, and was miffed when the Improper did a little blurb on it, as I was hoping to do the same for Stuff. Tue Jan 27 10:41:37 -0800 2009 4362226 10143 MC Slim JB 8 4362316 I've yet to go there. The gf works right around the corner and is supposed to be heading there soon w/ a friend of hers who works in the area (outside factors have delayed that). The concept of the high end diner resonates with me though, even if it isn't a place that I could visit with any real frequency (without a large series of economic stimulus checks, that is). Tue Jan 27 10:53:01 -0800 2009 4362260 111910 jgg13 9 4362336 It could be considered a diner in the layout of the space, but not the food. Definitely not the food. Tue Jan 27 10:56:21 -0800 2009 4362316 223248 T.Clark 6 4384887 I don't want to have to go move to eat when I'm enjoying myself drinking! I want to be able to have just enough food to allow me to keep going. It doesn't need to be fancy, but as I have said before (in a previous thread entitled something like "New menu at Drink"), the food the last time I was there was almost inedible. It makes me sad to say it, but I haven't been back since that second menu. Have they brought the gougeres back? Tater Tots sound promising... Tue Feb 03 15:32:44 -0800 2009 4361898 101438 hsquare2southend 7 4385239 Gougères were on the menu two weeks ago. The menu said mornay sauce so I was thinking mornay to dip them in. No mornay in sight. Bartender said mornay was piped in, didn't detect that either. Not great. Tue Feb 03 17:32:33 -0800 2009 4384887 223248 T.Clark 2 4318050 It was like drinking a coffee frappe. I don't remember the actual name of the drink but i'm sure all the bartenders would know what you're talking about if you mention an egg, muddled coffee beans, ect. Mon Jan 12 06:17:34 -0800 2009 4312607 217582 cannedmilkandfruitypebbles 1 4313831 Aviation (w/ and w/o the creme de violette), Toronto, Hearst, Bee's Knees, Last Word, Hanky-Panky, Perroquet ("what a mimosa wishes it were" --Josey), Whiskey Sour variant (w/claret snap), Lawhill, Red Hook. I can't wait to try the Coffee Flip. Thanks for the description, cm&fp. I've always thought that coffee and maraschino would make a great combo, and since I've never had a flip, this sounds like the perfect introduction. Sat Jan 10 10:10:34 -0800 2009 4310821 124873 wcantonese 1 4361582 I've had the Fort Point, Old Fashioned Old Fashioned, Toronto, King and Spadina, Coffee Flip and 1919. My favorite place for cocktails in the city now. Tue Jan 27 07:49:38 -0800 2009 4310821 126590 Matt H 2 4361917 I'm assuming the King and Spadina is a riff on the Toronto -- what was it like? Tue Jan 27 09:23:51 -0800 2009 4361582 17548 BarmyFotheringayPhipps 3 4363659 great name-- a setup for the next variation on that drink, the Queen and Spadina (another intersection in Toronto, as I"m sure you know) Tue Jan 27 16:59:45 -0800 2009 4361917 13161 barleywino 4 4364194 Well, obviously the Queen and Spadina should have an Asian influence, given that it's the heart of Chinatown. Tue Jan 27 20:01:44 -0800 2009 4363659 17548 BarmyFotheringayPhipps 3 4384839 You are correct it is a variation on the Toronto. I never had a chance to jot down the ingredients in it, but the major difference between that and a regular Toronto is the foam (almond?) at the top. I was back at Drink last night and wanted to find out exactly what was in it, but did not get a chance to ask John G. Tue Feb 03 15:16:25 -0800 2009 4361917 126590 Matt H 2 4439911 according to John G, Drink does not and never has offered the King and Spadina, although it has been available at 9 Park in the past.... Sat Feb 21 16:02:45 -0800 2009 4361582 13161 barleywino 3 4440843 That is strange. A friend of mine I was with the day it was ordered (who was pretty regular at No.9) was the one who recommended I order it. The bartender (the taller guy with the beard) mixed something for me after it was ordered and my friend did not seem to think it was any different from what he had at No.9....possibly he mixed something close to a K&S? Not sure, but it was pretty good from what I remember. Sun Feb 22 06:08:35 -0800 2009 4439911 126590 Matt H 4 4442181 maybe you have to give the secret Canadian handshake or password (poutine? eh?) to have them make it for you... Sun Feb 22 15:28:25 -0800 2009 4440843 13161 barleywino 1 4443397 This past Saturday tried the Studebaker - rye, molasses, Lillet?, two kinds of bitters - okay, I don't recall the exact ingredients, but it's something that Misty created for a contest. It's a little on the thick side, but really good. Also had the Boss - very simple, but declious - Old Fitzgerald Bonded Bourbon and amaretto. Mon Feb 23 07:27:23 -0800 2009 4310821 85007 bostonbroad 2 4443409 Yeah, the Boss is boss. The Luxardo Amaretto is a superior product - all the good flavor, but not the overwhelming sweetness of some lesser brands. I think the ratio is 4:1 Bourbon:Amaretto. Mon Feb 23 07:30:48 -0800 2009 4443397 13596 DoubleMan 3 4443770 I love a Godfather that substitues the Bourbon for Scotch. Never had the Bourbon Boss version though. It's on my list. Mon Feb 23 09:17:51 -0800 2009 4443409 217582 cannedmilkandfruitypebbles 1 4454813 Last night, the Krakatoa... 1/4 oz. Green Chartreuse poured into a cocktail glass and SET ON FIRE! Orange peel squeezed over class and dropped in. 2. oz Batavia Arrack, .5 oz. Fernet Branca, and .5 oz Demarera simple syrup stirred over ice and strained into glass, extinguishing flame. Thu Feb 26 11:59:51 -0800 2009 4310821 243219 craigasaurus 2 4454861 i had that last week. my God! what a lot of flavor going on in that glass. Thu Feb 26 12:10:23 -0800 2009 4454813 12603 ScubaSteve 3 4454901 I saw that on cocktailvirgin, but sometimes I'm afraid to order the drinks that those folks post about as they often seem like custom concoctions from the specific bartenders. Is this something that they all know how to make over there, or is it specific to particular folks there? Thu Feb 26 12:19:23 -0800 2009 4454861 111910 jgg13 4 4454913 gee, i really don't know. i just asked for a reco based on my previous consumption at Drink. it was like i said, a Lot of flavor, with almost a Dr. Pepper aftertaste but in the best possible way. Thu Feb 26 12:23:18 -0800 2009 4454901 12603 ScubaSteve 5 4454980 Who was it that made it for you? I've run into trouble once or twice before naming something that I had from one person that another didn't know and me not really knowing exactly what was in it (just that i liked it) so I try to shy away from those things :) I definitely wanted to give it a try though, it sounded interesting. Here's the link I was referring to earlier btw: http://cocktailvirgin.blogspot.com/2008/12/krakatoa.html Thu Feb 26 12:40:13 -0800 2009 4454913 111910 jgg13 6 4455166 i don't remember his name but it was the thin bartender with the dark-ish beard. he's usually at the middle station when i go. Thu Feb 26 13:29:00 -0800 2009 4454980 12603 ScubaSteve 7 4457251 Mine was prepared by Sam (used to have a moustache, now seems to be growing a beard). I asked for a drink w/ Batavia Arrack because I've been curious to try it, and he suggested the Krakatoa. It was a slow night and I think he was bored (he was making a sculpture from the ice block) and probably thought setting something on fire would be fun... The Coctailvirgin post said that John invented it. Anyway, I think the staff shares ideas, so anyone can probably fix you anything. They might add their own twist, but for some drinks they have pretty set standard ratios. Fri Feb 27 07:45:02 -0800 2009 4455166 243219 craigasaurus 8 4457260 I've watched Ben make a couple of spectacular flaming drinks, like the Green Blazer, which I think is essentially a toddy of Green Chartreuse, tossed flaming between two big pewter mugs. Really something to see, brings the whole section to a halt. Fri Feb 27 07:48:15 -0800 2009 4457251 10143 MC Slim JB 9 4457270 saw that the other day on my way out and was wondering what it was called. Thanks! Fri Feb 27 07:50:58 -0800 2009 4457260 12603 ScubaSteve 9 4457282 I once saw Josey making a blue blazer, and yeah - everyone around the bar stopped what they were doing to watch her. Misty was there wearing a customer hat and was cheering her on as she left ("You got it girl!"). Something right out of that old picture of Jerry Thomas ... impressive. Fri Feb 27 07:54:01 -0800 2009 4457260 111910 jgg13 9 4457318 Green Blazer is nothing more than Green Chartreuse, citrus peel, and a flame. Fri Feb 27 08:04:56 -0800 2009 4457260 217582 cannedmilkandfruitypebbles 8 4457275 "I think the staff shares ideas, so anyone can probably fix you anything. They might add their own twist, but for some drinks they have pretty set standard ratios." Yeah. The only time I really feel sheepish is when I don't remember enough about the ingredients (either from forgetfulness, not originally knowing or being fuzzed out from the previous drinks) to really state well enough what it was. I've been able to roughly describe things and get their own similar creation, sometimes better and sometimes worse. Fri Feb 27 07:52:22 -0800 2009 4457251 111910 jgg13 8 4464027 Frederic from CocktailVirgin here. They tend to use the proverbial royal I a lot when they all had a hand in perfecting it. I know with the Farley Mowat (link below) that both John and Ben take credit for it (and when asked, they'll describe which aspect they contributed to). http://cocktailvirgin.blogspot.com/2008/12/farley-mowat.html Sun Mar 01 17:15:00 -0800 2009 4457251 256764 yarm 1 4455115 I went last night for the first time and had the following observations. 1) It was bigger then I imagined and the decor is simple but elegant. 2) I was surprized at how quite it was at 11:00 P.M. 3) I was surprized at how many people were drinking beer. 4) Prices have already gone up from $8 to $10 per drink? Even though I am a wine drinker, I enjoyed my dacquiri. Thu Feb 26 13:13:54 -0800 2009 4310821 13735 csammy 2 4455135 I believe it was always $10/drink. I know it was that way on my first visit about a month after they opened. Thu Feb 26 13:20:46 -0800 2009 4455115 111910 jgg13 2 4455169 it's always been $10/drink iirc. Thu Feb 26 13:29:56 -0800 2009 4455115 12603 ScubaSteve 3 4455191 That is correct - always $10. Some drinks are $15, including ones with mezcal. Thu Feb 26 13:35:26 -0800 2009 4455169 13596 DoubleMan 4 4455194 mezcal, really? that's one liquor i've yet to explore there, can you make any recommendations? Thu Feb 26 13:36:35 -0800 2009 4455191 12603 ScubaSteve 5 4455239 Josey made me a Oaxaca old-fashioned - mezcal, tequila, agave nectar and bitters. If you don't really enjoy tequila flavor, you'll hate this drink. I am sure the crew at Drink has many other recipes up their sleeves. Thu Feb 26 13:45:44 -0800 2009 4455194 13596 DoubleMan 6 4455289 ahhhh, Very Nice. i think i'll give something tequila-y tomorrow. Thu Feb 26 13:57:26 -0800 2009 4455239 12603 ScubaSteve 5 4464818 scuba steve... the del maguey mezcals are available at a few places around town. try toro. they have the tobala and crema. awesome stuff. they are an interesting base or additive to a cocktail but i think best enjoyed neat. there a few single village, a tobala (a higher end moutain variety of agave plant which only the heart is used) and a crema. all hand made mezcal and aguably the most expressive and interesting clear spirit. Mon Mar 02 00:23:54 -0800 2009 4455194 259971 cockscomb 4 4460587 went yesterday and asked about the Mezcal. had an AirBag and one other that i can't remember, both very Good but more smokey than tequila-y. Sat Feb 28 09:53:09 -0800 2009 4455191 12603 ScubaSteve 2 4461140 We went Friday night and had a couple stunning cocktails made by Ben - one with Cognac, ginger demerara syrup, sparkling wine and a twist of lime - and a second courtesy of Don Lee from PDT named the DLB (Don's Little Bitter). Peychauds, Angostura (orange and regular), lemon, SS, Fernet, and Barbancourt 8. Yum. Topping it off was a Folia Noche - calvados, walnut liquer, and fee's whiskey bitters. Also delicious. Sat Feb 28 14:15:50 -0800 2009 4455115 61374 natecsd 3 4461749 i think you were sitting next to me. Sat Feb 28 19:11:53 -0800 2009 4461140 12603 ScubaSteve 4 4463448 I think you're right - that Mezcal-based drink Ben made you looked pretty darn good. Sun Mar 01 13:53:13 -0800 2009 4461749 61374 natecsd 5 4463933 it was.... Sun Mar 01 16:38:58 -0800 2009 4463448 12603 ScubaSteve 1 4475155 Last Sunday night I had a pretty standard Fort Point and Seelbach. But Misty told us we should come back in or after the snowstorm on Monday, because they do special hot drinks on such occasions - usually the Tom & Jerry eggnog. Went back on Monday night and they didn't have the Tom & Jerry, but they did have a Feuerzangenbowle, which is a spectacular, powerful, and absolutely delicious flaming wine punch. Brilliant. Thu Mar 05 00:21:36 -0800 2009 4310821 271873 Ready2Go 2 4475550 They must have gotten burned out on making the Tom & Jerry batter since they had it every time we were at Drink and it was snowy up until early February or so. They'll still do warm drinks on request such as toddies (I know Misty has a few combinations that are rather good). Thu Mar 05 06:50:57 -0800 2009 4475155 256764 yarm 1 4557560 Here is a list of the drinks that were ordered: Hot Toddy - I've had better, but I was sick, so it made up for it. Vieux Carre Hearst Seelbach Old Overholt Bee's Knees Blood and Sand Pegu Club The Prosecutor Don't know exactly what the ingredients were, but they were all yummy! Kristina Y. www.thevitullos.blogspot.com Wed Apr 01 09:36:40 -0700 2009 4310821 126146 kristinayee 1 4569401 i was just introduced to The Silent Order. lots of fresh basil. just Spring yumminess in a glass. i thought it would pair well with ceviche and Ben said that was a typical pairing from his No 9 days. Sun Apr 05 12:28:18 -0700 2009 4310821 12603 ScubaSteve 2 4594441 So, do you just gesture to get one? Or is Benedictine a key ingredient? http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/ Tue Apr 14 09:16:38 -0700 2009 4569401 10143 MC Slim JB 3 4594927 ha! not Benedictine, Chartruese. which Ben said has some kind of monastic tie. Tue Apr 14 11:28:01 -0700 2009 4594441 12603 ScubaSteve 4 4594976 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grande_Chartreuse Tue Apr 14 11:38:22 -0700 2009 4594927 111910 jgg13 5 4594985 The Benedictine monks are also big on silence, but I believe it's not quite the commitment it is to the Carthusians. Regardless, it's nice to see Chartreuse and Benedictine making a big comeback in cocktails. I've had a bottle of Green Chartreuse on my bar for years and didn't have many good ideas on how to use it, and now I have lots. And there are more varieties of Chartreuse than I ever knew about before: I finally saw some of the really fancy stuff (VEP in green and yellow, over $100/bottle) at Marty's in Allston just before it closed. (When I use up the ordinary Green, maybe I'll spring for one of those.) http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/ Tue Apr 14 11:41:06 -0700 2009 4594976 10143 MC Slim JB 6 4595194 I'm in the process of reading "Brew Like a Monk" (which focuses on the brewing practices of the Trappist monks as well as abbey-style breweries). Early on in there, one of the monks noted that the whole silence thing has been pretty overblown in that they were more than welcome to communicate as necessary, they were just supposed to be quiet/silent in order to not disturb other people's meditation - I'm not sure if that was Trappist-specific or not though. I've got a bottle of yellow which seems to go pretty slowly, although Benedictine goes a lot more quickly in my apartment. It didn't help that I'd long been a fan of B&B before I started tripping over better options (including making my own B&B with non-crap brandy) and now it gets used pretty heavily. As far as chartreuse goes, I can never decide which I prefer between the yellow or the green. Clearly when I bought the yellow I was thinking it was that one :) Considering they're already up around $60/bottle, if the more expensive stuff provides a noticeable step up it doesn't seem like a huge jump. Tue Apr 14 12:34:03 -0700 2009 4594985 111910 jgg13 7 4597928 We have a bottle of the VEP Green at home (wedding gift), and it is great, definitely more complex than the regular. We only drink it straight - I think its special qualities would probably get lost in a cocktail - so I wouldn't bother acquiring it if you only intended to mix with it. Wed Apr 15 09:24:08 -0700 2009 4595194 22331 dfan 1 4595306 With all these cocktails being made with odd elixirs, in wiki-ing, I found one I have not seen mentioned - Unicum - a Hungarian apertif - anyone come across its use at Drink or elsewhere? Are there any other weird or unique bitters or liquors not previously mentioned on the thread here being used at Drink or elsewhere in the area? Tue Apr 14 13:05:31 -0700 2009 4310821 11172 Bob Dobalina 2 4595348 zwack unicum is around at a lot of bars (including many non-obvious ones) but my understanding is that it's not the same as the one over there. Tue Apr 14 13:15:47 -0700 2009 4595306 111910 jgg13 3 4595388 According to the wiki, there are two kinds - unicum and zwack unicum, the latter being the sweeter of the two. Tue Apr 14 13:24:46 -0700 2009 4595348 11172 Bob Dobalina 4 4595398 Ah, god to know. Yeah, I've been seeing zwack unicum showing up in more and more bars (both around here and in toher places) and my day-to-day hangout bars aren't exactly high end. In more than one case I've had it handed to me for free by bartenders who have no idea what it is but were just given the bottle by distributors for free, and are trying to get people who like it enough to pay for it :) Tue Apr 14 13:27:27 -0700 2009 4595388 111910 jgg13 5 4595701 I found the Zwack at the Blanchard's in JP, and have been enjoying it neat as a nightcap. http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/ Tue Apr 14 14:52:40 -0700 2009 4595398 10143 MC Slim JB 6 4606053 An update: the stuff I have turns out to be Zwack Liqueur, an 80-proof bitters that is sweeter and fruitier than Zwack Unicum. Apparently it's sold in Hungary as Zwack Next. Zwack Unicum is stronger and much more bitter (and not retailed in MA as far as I can tell.) http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/ Fri Apr 17 19:49:11 -0700 2009 4595701 10143 MC Slim JB 7 4611648 I've been buying the little round nips of this the last couple of weeks. Can't figure out if I like it or not but might be somethign good to keep around for after dinner. It's not very bitter but it's pleasant. Mon Apr 20 10:52:07 -0700 2009 4606053 217582 cannedmilkandfruitypebbles 7 4615041 Yesterday, Bina was carrying the Zwack Liqueur. Pretty sure it was the Unicom that I saw last year. I bought a bottle of the Unicom at Cirace's last year. I'll stop in and see if they still carry it. Tue Apr 21 10:43:53 -0700 2009 4606053 10111 9lives 8 4622824 Cirace's is no longer carrying the Unicom..just the liqueur; something about their distributor switching from the Unicom to the liqueur. Thu Apr 23 13:49:53 -0700 2009 4615041 10111 9lives 1 4604480 Do they take reservations? We'll be in this area on Sat evening and I've been dying to go here for months, but I fear that it will be hellishly crowded on Marathon weekend. Fri Apr 17 10:01:47 -0700 2009 4310821 10917 Kat 2 4604950 They don't take reservations, and I would recommend staying away on weekend nights anyway. It's a very different scene, mobbed with people who don't seem to understand what the place is about. If there's any way you can go on a quieter weeknight after the post-work crowd has cleared out, that's about a thousand times better. I'm glad they're drawing crowds on Friday and Saturday, but it's kind of hellish there then. http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/ Fri Apr 17 12:13:53 -0700 2009 4604480 10143 MC Slim JB 3 4605157 Thank you...that is exactly what I feared. Another time, then. Is there anywhere else to go in the neighborhood? We'll be at Persephone for a late dinner, but I was hoping to walk somewhere different for a drink first. Fri Apr 17 13:31:08 -0700 2009 4604950 10917 Kat 4 4605335 Drink might still be doable if you're there early enough; I plan to shun it after 7pm or so on weekends from now on. Persephone has very good bartending; you could do a lot worse. Walkable nearby bars include Lucky's (across the street from Drink), which is okay, attracting a rowdier, more casual crowd, the upscale (but hideous) RumBar at the Inter-Continental Hotel, the too-swank but decent bar at Radius, and the posh hideaway that is the Rowes Wharf bar at the Boston Harbor Hotel, a secret handshake of a place I really like. http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/ Fri Apr 17 14:24:29 -0700 2009 4605157 10143 MC Slim JB 5 4607044 Thanks! We'll try Drink at 6:30, but if it is impossible then Plan B it to Radius. I like the idea of the secret hotel bar, may have to sniff that out. Sat Apr 18 11:22:14 -0700 2009 4605335 10917 Kat 6 4609284 Quite surprisingly, Drink was not at all crowded last night (Saturday) around 8:30 p.m., when we finally arrived there for a pre-dinner drink after a hellishly slow drive from Boylston St. We found 2 seats at the bar right away and enjoyed a Last Call for me and a variation on a gimlet with gin for spouse. Gougeres were very good, but the prosciutto plate was just OK. Very long pieces, hard to eat without being able to cut them and plain chunks of raw cauliflower just plopped on the plate. Dinner at Persephone was great; would return to Drink again for cocktails. Sun Apr 19 13:28:48 -0700 2009 4607044 10917 Kat 5 4616441 Too late for marathon weekend, but the (only) thing I like about RumBar is that you can take your drinks (in our case, usually a bottle of wine) out to the back patio. It's perfect for a lazy sunny afternoon. Tue Apr 21 16:45:36 -0700 2009 4605335 10768 cmd 1 4606963 Last Word and a couple of slight variations on a Monkey Gland gin, grenadine, absinthe, and grapefruit (in place of orange) juice quite delicious! Sat Apr 18 10:37:25 -0700 2009 4310821 39276 givemefoodnow 1 4607187 Article in today's Weekend Journal on the not-soon-enough decline in vodka's appeals: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124000672480430317.html It mentions Jackson of Eastern Standard and Misty of Drink, and includes an interesting mezcal-based recipe from Misty. Impressive for Boston to merit so many mentions in the NY-focused WSJ; from B Side to ESK to Drink, we really are running full speed with the cocktail revival. Sat Apr 18 12:32:36 -0700 2009 4310821 193495 rlove 1 4610931 I finally got to Drink and I hated it. The bartender, Ben, was bitchy from the get-go -- telling us we'd chosen a dumb place for our group (it seemed to work out just fine for the 8 of us) and then basically refusing to play "riddle me this", which is half the fun of a place like this. Here's how it normally goes ... you say "I'd like something limey, maybe minty, not with Gin, what can you recommend?" And then a non-PMSy bartender might say "Oh, how about an xxxx?" And then you say "That sounds great, thanks!" Instead, Ben said something to the effect of he couldn't make me a drink if I didn't know what I wanted. His vibe had nothing fun or playful to it and the place wasn't particularly busy on Friday night. Feeling chided, I sat there wondering how I could escape quickly, and when asked if I like lavender I meekly said sure. The resulting drink was fine but the whole experience bordered on hostile so that I just wanted to get out of there. Walking to the T afterwords I put a bright spin on it ... Drink is a pain for me to get to, the crowd isn't douchey but this bartender is, and there are a good handful of other places in town where they actually seem to want to make the customer happy. Feh! Y'all can keep Drink. Mon Apr 20 07:38:35 -0700 2009 4310821 10232 yumyum 2 4611180 try Misty's station (the one on the far left), she is usually pretty cheerful and helpful, Ben is more taciturn although is friendly once you get to know him/vice versa Mon Apr 20 08:58:01 -0700 2009 4610931 13161 barleywino 2 4611639 wow! Ben is my favorite. i'm sorry you didn't enjoy yourself, but Drink is going to be in my weekly rotation for quite some time. Mon Apr 20 10:49:38 -0700 2009 4610931 12603 ScubaSteve 3 4611721 Yeah -- lots of people seem to like him. I was apparently unworthy of the gracious barkeeping the rest of you are treated to. To each his own! ETA: I really didn't have this chip on my shoulder as I walked into the bar. Ben put it there. Mon Apr 20 11:10:51 -0700 2009 4611639 10232 yumyum 2 4612790 Wow, big bummer. You never get a second chance to make a first impression. There's enough other good places doing the high-craft cocktail thing to not need to put up with that. My own experiences at Drink have been much, much better, but I wouldn't blame you for not going back after that. http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/ Mon Apr 20 15:51:25 -0700 2009 4610931 10143 MC Slim JB 3 4613582 I have yet to make it to Drink, waiting for a time where I can be almost assured of getting an actual seat at one of the stations to fully experience the designed interaction. So I have no personal opinion on yumyum's experience. But I am struck by the lack of defense of this particular bartender. Either people have given up on this particular thread or (I'm guessing) there might be some truth in this person's experience. I say this solely based on the fact that the overwhelming majority of posts regarding the interaction with staff (especially in terms of cocktails) has been previously positive. Yumyum's was the first to stick out to me in terms of it's negative nature. And the reaction was quite muted. Asking in all seriousness (should I look for certain staff when I eventually go?), are not all Drink bartenders created equal? Mon Apr 20 20:27:08 -0700 2009 4612790 235722 Canadian Tuxedo 4 4613884 they open at 4pm daily iirc so if you go early you can usually have your choice of seats. try Misty's station (far left), or John G's station (far right) if you are lucky enough to find him working there Tue Apr 21 04:18:19 -0700 2009 4613582 13161 barleywino 5 4614015 I also really enjoyed Josie who was also on the far left the first time I went. www.thevitullos.blogspot.com Tue Apr 21 06:01:09 -0700 2009 4613884 126146 kristinayee 5 4614219 i'm usually there twice weekly and i gotta say that the bartenders move around the three stations pretty regularly. and i've been sitting with Sam and asked for Misty to make me something out of her kit and was obliged without a fuss. Tue Apr 21 07:15:26 -0700 2009 4613884 12603 ScubaSteve 4 4614387 Going when it's not packed is an excellent strategy. When they're fighting off mobs, the staff just can't take the time to engage with individual customers in the way that makes the place uniquely useful and fun. I think every bartender there offers a different and worthy spin on the experience. I think I've been served by most of them -- they do move between stations, don't have a fixed location from night to night -- and none of them, including Ben, has been less than excellent in my book. But I don't blame yumyum for wanting to give the place an eff-you after a bad experience like that. Too bad for Drink, but it's a good example of how important the hospitality aspect of tending bar is: all the technical chops in the world don't mean anything to a customer if you're a dick to them. http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/ Tue Apr 21 08:08:09 -0700 2009 4613582 10143 MC Slim JB 4 4614825 There is probably some truth in this person's experience. Hell, I've seen even my favorite bartenders have bad days, be snippy, not want to be creative, or other. Many of them work four 14 hour days in a row (at Drink they get there at 2pm or earlier to prep and don't leave until the cleanup is done around 3 or 4am) and can get tired and grumpy at times just like you at your respective jobs. I have been to Drink when its empty and had the luxury of having long conversations with the bartender about cocktails and gotten spoiled with amazing cocktails (time consuming and ingredient rich). And I have been there when it was 2 deep (haven't seen it at 4+ deep though) -- the interactions change to simple requests and nothing out of the ordinary mixology-wise. At those times, stating a base spirit and perhaps another ingredient can trigger them into remembering a recipe that works. Other times, knowing what you want to drink by name helps (although I have seen them turn down requests for Long Island Ice Teas and the like). Not sure exactly what happened in this instance and I am sure that it is not the only time it has happened, but serving craft cocktails when there is a major backlog on the orders can get stressful. If you want a great Drink experience, go early or on off days like Sundays. If you go prime time on Thurs-Sat, don't expect the same service as 10pm on a Sunday night or 4pm on a Saturday. Tue Apr 21 09:54:53 -0700 2009 4613582 256764 yarm 5 4615012 I can tell you that there is more than "some truth" to the story. It's what actually happened. I know because I was sitting next to YY. The bartender was incredibly rude to YY as she described. He was also not particularly busy or backed up; and quickly took my order without incident.. then came back to YY with the lavendar suggestion. I enjoyed my drink as much as I could; given how he'd just treated YY...expertly made Old Fashion with a story about rye vs bourbon. We arrived as 2 groups of 4..and the second group are regulars at Drink/#9 Park and were all treated fine.. and had a great time. No one likes to hear something negative about a place they like but that's what happened. I can't speculate as to why Ben treated YY as he did; but I know what he said..and what I heard and saw. Tue Apr 21 10:36:03 -0700 2009 4614825 10111 9lives 4 4614850 That particular bartender (Ben) was great when we went. Tue Apr 21 10:00:34 -0700 2009 4613582 22331 dfan 2 4613646 Yumyum, that sucks! How could he expect anyone to know what they wanted if they don't even offer a menu? It's reputed as a craft cocktail bar, so either there has to be an extensive, creative menu, or they've got to craft something to your liking. After he said that, did you order something, or did he ask you immediately about the lavender? Did he greet you with, "Hi, this is a dumb place for you to come." If so, are you sure he was serious? Did he say why it was dumb? Maybe since the approach is supposed to be personalized, he felt it would be impossible to do justice to eight people all at once, but he could have said so nicely. I've only encountered Benjamin when he was at No.9, and he was generous and delightful in a low-key, offbeat way. He must have been having a really off day. Mon Apr 20 21:01:39 -0700 2009 4610931 105892 pollystyrene 2 4614003 Have you seen "Ben" and the Lupita lady in the same place at the same time? Hmm.... I thought the whole point of the place was to let the bartender intuit your drink. That sucks. On the other hand, Yum, closer to your 'hood, I think, we were at the Independent on Thursday - don't know the bartender but I basically said, I like bourbon and surprise me and got a manhattan made with benedictine and punt e mes that was perfect! Tue Apr 21 05:51:21 -0700 2009 4610931 11172 Bob Dobalina 3 4614237 Highland Kitchen, Green Street and Gargoyles are all within stumbling distance of me so I'll head there when I want a good cocktail. I have been encouraged to visit Tom at the bar at Craigie, too, and will do so asap! "I like bourbon and surprise me" is exactly what I was looking for at Drink. Just didn't happen for me. Tue Apr 21 07:19:04 -0700 2009 4614003 10232 yumyum 1 4671697 Just hit up Drink for our second time this past Thursday around 10:00 or so. Though there weren't a ton of seats at the bars, it was surprisingly uncrowded for a Thursday night, which was great for our group of about 10. We were quite impressed the last time we went. This time we got a round of champagne to celebrate our friends' engagement, an "original martini", made with gin, sweet vermouth and orange bitters, as well as an "Old Monk Daiquiri", Old Monk Rum from India mixed with fresh lime juice. Drink remains on our list of fun bars to frequent and seemed to be a big hit amongst our friends. Cheers! www.thevitullos.blogspot.com Sun May 10 17:37:03 -0700 2009 4310821 126146 kristinayee 1 4726977 the drink i stumped the bartenders with at drink: a buccaneer. gin, campari, pineapple, and falernum. ironically, since i'd only read about it and never tried, it didn't taste all that good. my theory is the interaction between the campari and pineapple was less than fortuitous. i think i ordered from ben, but i can't be sure. it was from the station furtherest to the right. never managed to order a drink from misty or josie - the next goal! on a service-related note, john g. was great about refunding my money when drink overcharged me by $40 on an errant tab. don't know where else to share this, but he was extremely courteous and understanding about the whole matter! Fri May 29 20:25:00 -0700 2009 4310821 254576 amidli 2 4727097 Was the overcharge something you caught before you left, or something you noticed later on your credit-card bill? http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/ Fri May 29 21:44:01 -0700 2009 4726977 10143 MC Slim JB 1 4727642 My last visit I had Scott: Negroni: Gin, sweet vermouth, Campari Gin Gin Mule: gin, ginger beer, lime juice, simple syrup, muddled mint, in a collins Maximilian Affair: mezcal, St-Germain, sweet vermouth, lemon juice All fantastic, particularly the Maximilian. Sat May 30 08:19:22 -0700 2009 4310821 193495 rlove